Pocket-protector.



N0.s3|,744'. O PatenfedA'ugzz, |899.

OJ. n. HEFFNER, .1. ALLEN a w. coLLlEn.

(No Model- UNITED STATES PATENT FEICE.

JOSEPH D. lIEFFNER, JOSEPH J. ALLEN, AND lVALLAOE COLLIER, OF

LEXINGTON,

KENTUCKY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,744, dated August 22, 1899.

Application filed Tune 2, 1898. Serial No. 682,386. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOSEPH D. HEFFNER, JOSEPH J. ALLEN, and WALLACE COLLIER, citizens of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Pocket-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pocket-protectors, and has for its object to provide a novel, simple, eflicient, and economical pocket-protector which may be conveniently and quickly applied without the necessity of sewing it to or securing it within parts of the garment and without damaging the garment and which can be readily removed and subsequently replaced if occasion demands.

To this end our invention consists inthe combination of a resilient base-plate designed to lie upon the inside of the garment and having struck up from its opposite ends tangs adapted to pass through the fabric to the front of the pocket and a spring adapted to lie along the outer side of the pocket beneath the upper edge thereof, said spring being provided at its opposite ends with eyes or loops, which may be passed over the tangs carried by the base-plate and the tangs then bent back and down in oppositedirections to attach the baseforming a part of this specification, wherein-1 Figure l is a perspective view showing our improved protector applied to the pocket of a garment-such as a vest, for example. Fig. 2 is a rear view showing the base-plate in place. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the protector applied to the garment. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the base-plate and the coiled spring before their attachment to the garment, and Fig. 5 is a detail View showin g the base-plate provided with a leatherv lining.

In order to enable those vskilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will now describe the same in detail, referring to the thereto.

` drawings, wherein the numeral l indicates a or other suitable metal or material which will yield and resume its normal position. This resilient base-plate is slightly curved longitudinally and is widest at a point midway between its ends, as at 4, from which point it tapers gradually toward its opposite ends, forthepurposehereinafterexplained. Struck up from the ends of the base-plate 3 are two tangs 5, that are formed integrally with the base-plate by punching them out from the latter and then bending them up at right angles The resilient base-plate is designed to lie against or upon the inside of the garment and the projecting tangs pass through the fabric or material to the front or outer side of the pocket. Alengthwise extensible and con- .tra-ctible spring 6 is adapted to lie parallel to the base-plate and when in use along the front or lapel of the pocket at a point below the edge of the entrance of the latter and is provided at its extremities with eyes or loops 7, which are slipped over the tangs 5, so that the spring lies on the outer side or lapel of the pocket, and the tangs are then bent back away from each other and down upon the ends of the base-plate. The spring 6 is placed under tension before being slipped over the tangs, and the resilient base plate being slightly curved longitudinally outward the spring will draw the lapel of the pocket firmly against the base-plate throughout its length, effectuallypreventing the accidental escape or withdrawal of anyk article or articles from the pocket. In practice the tangs should not be bent up directly at their point of juncture with the base-plate, but should be bent up a slight distance therefrom, whereby when the tangs are bent back and down upon the base-plate to secure the parts in position the Vtangs will not be rupturedor broken oif.

The pointed tangs form fastenings by means of which the base-plate and spring may be at- IOO tached to garments of varyin g thickness without altering or changing any of the parts and Without injury to the garment and without sewing any part of the protector to or securing it within parts of the garment. The elasticity of the spring permits the pocket to be opened sufficiently to permit articles to be slipped into and removed therefrom, while the curved resilient base-plate operates to keep the spring under a constant tension and cause it to engage and hold the lapel of the pocket closed at every point. By making the base-plate of the form shown strength is given .toit at the point most needed-that is, intermediate the ends of the base-plate-without at the same time impairing the elasticity or resiliency of the latter, and, moreover, an extended bearing is provided for the spring, so that the latter cannot possibly hook over or engage the upper or under edge of the base-plate, and by making the ends of the base-plate tapered or reduced, as shown, no

projecting corners or edges are furnished which would be apt to catch in the Suspenders or other apparel of the wearer. In order to prevent The metallic base-plate from wearing or cutting the fabric, a lining 8, of leather or similar material, may be arranged on the face of the base-plate and the same is firmly and securely held in place by passing the tan gs 5 therethrough.

Constructed as above described the protector is simple, economical, and effective and may be quickly applied to any garment without the necessity of sewing it to or secur# ing it within parts of the garment and without injury to the lat-ter.

Having described our invention, what we claim is- 1. A pocket-protector consisting of a baseplate having an integral tang struck up at or near each end, and a spring lying parallel to said base-plate and provided with loops or eyes engaged with the struck-up tangs of the latter, said tangs being bent down upon the base-plate to secure the spring, substantially as described.

2. A pocket-protector, consisting of a baseplate designed to lie upon the inside of a garment and having an integral tang struck at or near each end, a coiled spring adapted to lie along the outside of the edge or lapel of the pocket and provided at its extremities with loops or eyes, said spring being secured in place by slipping said loops or eyes over the tangs and bending the latter back and down upon the base-plate, substantially as described.

3. A pocket-protector, consisting of a resilient metal base-plate curved longitudinally and designed to lie upon the inside of a garment, said base-plate having an integral tang struck up at or near each end, a lengthwise expansible and contractible spring adapted to lie along the outside of the edge or lapel of the pocket and provided at its extremities with loops or eyes, said spring and base-plate being secured in place by passing the tangs through the said eyes or loops and bending them back and down upon the baseplate,sub stantially as described.

et. A pocket-protector, consisting of a resilient metal base-plate curved longitudinally and tapering from its center toward its ends, said base-plate being adapted to lie upon the inside of a garment and having an integral tang struck up at or near each end and designed to be passed through the garment and the edge or lapel of the garment, a length- Wise expansible and contractible spring adapted to lie along the edge or lapel of the pocket and provided at its extremities with loops or eyes arranged to be slipped over the tangs and the latterbent back and down upon the base-plate, substantially as described. v 5. A pocket-protector consisting of a resilient metal base-plate designed to lie upon the inside of a-garment said base-plate having an integral tang struck up at or near each end, a leather lining secured on the face of the base-plate by the tangs, a lengthwise expansible and contractible spring adapted to lie along the outside of the edge or lapel of the pocket and provided at its extremities with loops or eyes adapted to be slipped over the tangs and the latter bent back and down on the base-plate, substantially as described. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOSEPH D. HEFFNER. JOS. J.' ALLEN. VALLACE COLLIER. tVitncsses:

F. B. Kunnen, JAMES L. -Nonnls 

